Syrian websites claimed last Saturday that Jordan is harboring approximately 18,000 armed Libyan Salafi troops, on standby to fight in Syria against President Bashar Al-Assad. The Syrian Websites Al Haqeeqa and Sham Press, staunchly in support of Al Assad’s regime, claim to have confirmed the information from sources in Amman that Libyans are entering Jordan under the pretext of medical treatment.

Given that Jordan's community over the last year has been a-chatter with the increasing number of Libyan medical 'tourists' (adding to the medical waiting list), insiders find this story to be a strong possibility. What remains astounding is the staggering number of these so-called soldiers. It is not the first time medical subterfuge has been used as a ruse for military means.

Scores of Salafi fighters await signal to spring

The influx of said Salafi troops has flooded straight out of the heart of Tripoli, led by the capital's military commander. According to Syrian sources, Islamist war chief General Abel Hakim Bilhaj is heading up the drive to smuggle in his troops, masquerading as walking-wounded, into the Kingdom. They are purportedly flocking to Jordan by grace of the universal immunity granted to physical victims of conflict, as, says the report, “wounded soldiers in need of treatment.”

The website claims that the number of Libyans in the side-wings in Jordan has reached a hefty toll of 43,000, 18,000 of which are professional Salafi troops. Apparently the remaining figures are their consorts - family members who have accompanied them. Still, a marked majority of them are said to be males.

The report indicated their geographic location, specifying, “A sealed area between Al Mafraq and Al Ramtha," as being readied to accommodate these numbers. "They will remain there in waiting until called upon to enter Syria to fight,” reported the website.

Other details mentioned, laid bare their schedule of mobilization. They are supposedly set to enter Syria 'soon,' according to an agreement between Amman, Al Doha and Washington.

Meanwhile, these Libyan military-personnel, posing as medical cases from Libya are waiting in Jordan until it is decreed they be used as extra ammunition in this war against Assad.